Sunday, April 16, 2023
/The Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14a,22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
The Rev. Jeffrey Bohanski
Lord, Jesus the Christ. Help my unbelief. Help me to forgive and live in your love and peace. Amen.
Happy Easter! The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!
Today we hear two more resurrection stories. How appropriate this is because after all, this is Easter. Easter will be with us for another six weeks.
Last week we heard about Mary weeping at the tomb. This week we hear another resurrection story. Well, actually we hear two stories. One story is about the disciples, minus Thomas, and the other takes place a week later, this time with Thomas.
Have you ever noticed the story about Thomas takes place a week after the story about the disciples? Have you ever wondered why the disciples are still there in that locked shut house? Why are they still stuck in their fear?
Perhaps they are stuck debating the word “if.” In the first story where Jesus appears to the disciples and says, “Peace be with you. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." What does that mean, “If you forgive the sins. . .” Does that mean we have a choice we have a choice to forgive? You know, I can really see those hardheaded men set apart on opposite sides of the room mired down in fierce debate about the word “if.”
Should we forgive those who have just killed Jesus. Should we forgive those who probably want us all dead or at best to simply go away? Thankfully, the disciples in that room, probably due to the second story about Thomas, decided the answer was yes.
I’ve come to believe these two stories are related. Perhaps, when Thomas brought his doubt about Jesus’ physical body being raised from the dead to Jesus, the disciples were then able to bring their debate about the word “if” to Jesus. In both instances, Jesus lovingly and powerfully gave them the grace to change their minds. Thomas was given and accepted the grace to believe and the disciples were given and accepted the grace to forgive.
I do think we’ve been given the choice of whether to forgive sins or not. What happens if we don’t? From my personal experience, when I didn’t, I got mired down in fear and resentment. I’ve found holding onto resentment takes a whole lot of energy.
I’ve found if I, like Thomas, ask Jesus for help to forgive, he will and has already given me the ability to forgive. Forgiveness brings life and joy. Forgiveness brings me energy. Energy to live life as God created me to be. Forgiveness brings peace, the peace I believe, Jesus intends for us.
Forgiveness is hard. Forgiveness is letting go. For some issues of forgiveness, I’ve needed years and counseling and support to finally forgive and let go. Sometimes I have to turn off the news and stop listening to the world telling me people like me are bad and dangerous and go listen to something positive or to focus on Jesus. Sometimes it just an intellectual decision to say no to the world and yes to Jesus.
This week I listened to a podcast from The Living Compass. In it the Rev. Dr. Scott Stoner posed this question, “What does it mean to live in and practice the resurrection?” I believe living in the resurrection is living in and practicing forgiveness.
How do we do this? I’ve found it helpful to keep a journal of thankfulness. This helps me to change my mindset and look for things to be thankful for. I’ve found the Jesus prayer to be helpful in forgiving myself. “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Praying for those who have hurt me has helped immensely. I pray for them because I know hurt people hurt people. Somehow Jesus gives me the grace to forgive much like he did for Thomas in his unbelief. I have found talking to and praying with a trusted friend about matters forgiveness is very helpful. Remember one of our Pastoral Offices in our Book of Common Prayer is Reconciliation of a Penitent. I invite you to review that.
My hope for us this morning is we all choose to live in the resurrection. I invite all of us to live in forgiveness; forgiveness of others as well as ourselves. My prayer is that we accept and use the grace of Jesus to forgive ourselves and others. Amen.